Welcome to Barcelona!
The city of Barcelona is on the Mediterranean Sea, located in the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and has a population of about 1.6 million inhabitants, which makes it the second most populated city in Spain and the tenth in Europe.
Barcelona today is the result of more than 2,000 years of history and is well-known as a friendly city that has developed thanks to the contributions of people from different places and backgrounds.
The presence of new residents from around the world has increased the city's cultural diversity and has made it a place for meetings, dialogue and interaction between neighbours of Barcelona from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
You are invited to be a part of all the neighbours living in Barcelona, and to get to know the resources available to you in the city.
These certify your status as a city resident and are required in order to receive support and resources aimed at ensuring full autonomy and social inclusion. This support and the resources are part of your rights and are not dependant on whether your administrative situation is legalised at the State level. So if you have just arrived in Barcelona, it is important that you carry out the following procedures:
Register
This refers to registration at the city registry of inhabitants of the City of Barcelona. The resident registry procedure certifies resident status in the city of Barcelona. This is the first step for people who have just arrived. Everyone must register whether or not they hold a resident permit. This is required in order to provide evidence of city residence for immigration procedures and for access to public services (education, healthcare, and so on).
Each time you move, you must deregister from your previous address and then register at your new address. Also, all registered foreign nationals from non-EU countries who do not have a permanent residence permit must renew their registration at the city registry (padró, in Catalan) every two years from the date of initial registration. You will be removed from the registry if you do not comply with the renewal (Article 16 of Local Government Act).
If you are living in a room or have no fixed address in Barcelona, you may also register at the city registry.
What should I do?
- Locate the Citizen Help and Information Office (OAC) in your district.
- Schedule an appointment on line or ring 010.
- On the day of your scheduled appointment, you will need to submit the following documents:
- Personal identification card.
- Proof of home address: house deed, tenancy or rent contract, or registry authorisation signed by the house owner or an authorised person.
- Proof of residence without a fixed address: application for a residence report in Barcelona must be requested at the Citizen Help and Information Office (OAC) in order to obtain verification. This preliminary report is required for registration at the city registry.
Here you will find detailed information on local resident registration.
Request the healthcare card
All people in Catalonia are granted access to the public healthcare system, regardless of their administrative situation. The Individual Healthcare Card (Targeta Sanitària Individual - TSI) is the document that grants access to public healthcare services (health centres, hospitals, chemist's or drugstores...).
What should I do?
All residents in the city who have registered at the city registry may obtain a healthcare card whether or not they have a residence permit as foreign nationals. Each family member must have their own healthcare card (TSI), regardless of their age. You must go to the primary healthcare centre assigned to your home address and provide the documentation required according to your specific situation.
- Locate the Primary Healthcare Centre (CAP) nearest to your home address.
- Schedule an appointment by ringing 93 326 89 01.
- Here you will find all the organisations in the Reception and Support Network which provide specific health-related services. Use the filter to find organisations with specific healthcare services.
In the section City Services/Healthcare you will find more information concerning the public healthcare system.
School placement of the children under your care
School is mandatory for children from 6 to 16 years of age
- From 0 to 3 years old, they must attend a nursery school.
- From 3 to 12 years old, they must attend a Pre-school and Primary School Centre (CEIP, in Catalan).
- From 12 to 16 years old, they must attend a Secondary School (IES, in Catalan).
What should I do?
The first step is pre-registration. Only one pre-registration form must be submitted at the first school on your list of choice. Once you are told which school you are assigned to (published lists), then you must confirm your acceptance of admittance by filling in the required school application.
Before starting the pre-registration and application process, we advise you to consult current legislation, the calendar, procedures and criteria. This may be consulted on bulletin boards at all schools, at public information points and at related websites.
Information is also provided at the Information Office of the Education Consortium of Barcelona and at telephone numbers 010 and 012.
How can I apply once the school year has started?
You should go to the Information Office of the Education Consortium of Barcelona.